138 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 



Huddle, M.A.., Mrs. A. Johnson, Miss M. M. Johnson, Mr. D. J. Morgan, J. P., 

 Mr. W. S. Parksr, Miss Emily Read, Dr. Albart Wilson, and Miss Berta 



Wilson. 



In the absence of the author, the Secretary read the title and gave a 

 short account of a paper entitled " Essex as a Wine-Producing County," by 

 Mr. Miller Christy, F. L.S. This paper has already been printed in the 

 present volume of the Essex Naturalist (ante pp. 34-48). 



Some time was spent in rambling about the very attractive grounds of the 

 house. The dungeons were visited and the ' museum," the precise informa- 

 tion on the rarities therein contained given by the attendant causing much 

 amusement. The most interesting curiosity of the collection is the Great 

 Bed of Ware. It is thus mentioned in Cussan's History nf Hcrtfordsliire 

 (1870):- 



'■ The ' Great Bed,' mentioned by Shakespeare, and of which everyone 

 has heard, demands a passing notice. It was originally in the ' Crown Inn,' 

 and on the demolition of that building in June, 1765, it was transferred to the 

 ' Bull,' whence it was afterwards removed to the ' Saracen's Head.' It is 

 said to be upwards of four hundred years old, but the style of car\i ng 

 does not indicate a period earlier than that of Queen Elizabeth ; the date, 

 1463, painted at the head is comparatively modern. In form it is nearly 

 square, each side being about twelve feet in length; the massive posts are 

 plain at the bottom, and at about two feet from the ground are four pillars, 

 one at each angle of the posts. These pillars support four arches, above 

 which the posts, elaborately carved, continue for about four feet more ; the 

 total height being about eight feet. The canopy and the head of the Bed are 

 finely carved ; the latter, with human figures, fluted work, heraldic roses, 

 and gothic arches. Its beauty is much marred by initials and names cut 

 by idle sightseers, amongst whom ' Mr. William Harrison, of Saxelby, 

 Lincolnshire a Malitiaman, 1761,' is most conspicuous." 



The relic was purchased at the sale at the " Saracen's Head" by Mr. 

 Teale, and added to the curiosities of Rye House. A description of the Bed, 

 with a picture of it, was given in the Literary World, of January, 1840. 



The remarkable display of the fine yellow " Musk " plant on the banks of 

 the river, after leaving the Rye House again, attracted much attention. Tliis 

 plant has been hitherto recorded in all our Floras and local lists as an alien 

 under the name of Mimulus liiteiis, L. It now appears probable that all the 

 records of it apply to M. langsdorffii, Dow ^North American). The distinctions 

 between this and other species, previously grouped under the name M. luteiiss 

 from the true (South American) plant of Linne, were given by Prof. E. L. 

 Green in the Journal of Botany for 1895, PP- 4"^ The flower is specially 

 interesting, as Mr. Hepworth remarks in the Rochester Naturalist, in possessing 

 a curious bilabiate irritable stigma, which slowly closes when touched. It 

 appears to be rapidly establishing itself in many places in England. 



To resume Mr. Bramley's narrative, " a bridge was erected some years 

 ago below the Rye House, in the place of one which had stood from the time 

 of Charles, the timber of the old bridge being black as ebony. This is just 

 above Field's Weir, which is so named from its being constructed by a 

 family named Fielde, the owners of Rye House. Here the river Stort (on 



